Category Archives: Technology

Nintendo DS handhelds surpass Game Boy sales

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In their latest quarterly earnings report, Nintendo happily announced that their DS line of handhelds (DS, DS Lite, DSi, DSi XL) has officially sold more units than the their Gameboy predecessors.  The DS family has sold around 129 million units, briskly passing the 118 million Game Boy handhelds sold.  Although this makes the DS line the best selling handheld gaming device in history, the Sony PlayStation 2 still wears the crown when it comes to all video game devices with 140 million units sold.  Anyhow, way to go Ninty!  Nintendo 3Ds, come out, come out wherever you are.

[Via Nintendo; Engadget]

Android steals silver crown from iPhone OS in US smartphone market

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According to The NPD Group, a market research company, Google’s Android smartphone OS pushed past Apple to claim second place among smartphone operating systems.  Here’s the official standings for Q1 2010: #1-RIM (36%), #2- Android OS (28 %), #3- iPhone OS (21%).  Ross Rubin, executive director of industry analysis for NPD, shares the reasoning behind the shift in dominance: “As in the past, carrier distribution and promotion have played a crucial role in determining smartphone market share.  In order to compete with the iPhone, Verizon Wireless has expanded its buy-one-get-one offer beyond RIM devices to now include all of their smartphones.”  And how do the popular US carriers size up, you ask?  #1- AT&T (32%), #2- Verizon Wireless (30%), T-Mobile (17%), Sprint (15%).  With the recent HP-Palm aquisition and iPhone OS 4, BlackBerry 6, and Windows Phone 7 mobile OS previews, the smartphone market is asking for a healthy shakeup.  As a customer and gadget enthusiast, I say bring it on.

[Via NPD]

iPad goes international on May 28

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On Friday, May 28 the following nine countries will join the U.S. with iPad launch festivities: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland, and the UK.  Eager customers who can’t wait to get their oily hands all over the magical device can preorder it online on Monday, May 10.  Apple pledges to release the iPad in Austria, Belgium, Hong Kong, Ireland, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand and Singapore sometime in July.  Look after the break for the full PR and price listings.

[Via Apple; Engadget; Mashable] Continue reading iPad goes international on May 28 →

Microsoft Kin now available online, in Verizon stores May 13

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Generation Upload, listen here: Microsoft Kin devices are now available to purchase online and you can pick one up in a Verizon Wireless store near you come May 13.  The Kin One goes for $49.99 and the Kin Two sits at $99.99, both after a $100 mail-in rebate and a new two-year customer agreement, of course.  Big Red reminds us that “to get the most from Kin” you must subscribe to the Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk ($39.99) and an Email and Web for Smartphone($29.99) plans.  A bit pricey for a smart dumbphone that’s limited in functionality if you ask me.  But alas, it won’t be long until you can get your Kin Loop, Spot, & Studio on; it’s just a mere three days away!  PR after the break.

[Via Verizon; Engadget] Continue reading Microsoft Kin now available online, in Verizon stores May 13 →

28 days later…Apple sells 1 millionth iPad

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April 3 to May 3.  28 days.  1 million iPads sold.  The “revolution” has begun, wouldn’t you say?  The “magical” device Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced to the world back in January now sits in the hands of over one million people.  This impressive feat surpassed the rate at which the iPhone flew off store shelves, and Jobs was quick to make this fact known: “One million iPads in 28 days-that’s less than half of the 74 days it took to achieve this milestone with iPhone.  Demand continues to exceed supply and we’re working hard to get this magical product into the hands of even more customers.”  Also within this time frame, over 12 million apps from the App Store and over 1.5 million ebooks from the iBookstore were downloaded to iPads.  Read the full PR after the break.

[Via Apple] Continue reading 28 days later…Apple sells 1 millionth iPad →

Nintendo Wii gets a new coat of paint, beefier baseline package

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Nine months after being released in Japan, a black-coated version of the Nintendo Wii console is coming to America.  Come May 9 consumers will have the option to purchase a white or black Wii console.  Both models will remain at $199.99.  But get this–the baseline package now includes a copy of Wii Sports Resort and a Wii MotionPlus accessory.  These new additions bundle with the standard fare that includes the Wii console, one Wiimote, and Wii Sports.  Now you can finally match your black Wiimotes and nunchucks with a console of the same shade.

[Via Joystiq]

Aisha Tyler walks us through the Halo: Reach multiplayer beta

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Halo fans, check out this tutorial of sorts.  Actress Aisha Tyler breaks down game types, the new maps and environments, weapons, and more.  It’s an informative and helpful video; the only downside is the crazy amount of awkward  mentions of the phrase “kick your ass.”  Aren’t those oversized prop weapons she handles kick-ass, erm, awesome!?  To access the Halo: Reach beta you need a copy of Halo: ODST.  Happy fragging.